Description:
H.R. 5532 would redesignate the Reconstruction Era National Monument in Beaufort County, South Carolina, as the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. The bill also would direct the National Park Service (NPS) to establish the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, which would comprise existing units and programs of the NPS related to the history of the Reconstruction Era as well as the properties and programs of other federal, state, local, and private entities that join the network. Redesignating the Reconstruction Era National Monument may require the NPS to update maps, informational materials, and signage. Based on the costs of similar tasks, CBO estimates that those costs would be insignificant. The bill also would permit the NPS to acquire additional lands for that park by means of donation, purchase using donated funds, or through a land exchange. CBO has no information on whether the NPS would expand the park; however, based on the experience of other NPS units, CBO expects that any such expansion would not occur for several years, and any associated management costs would be less than $500,000 over the 2019-2023 period. As part of establishing the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, the NPS would produce and distribute maps and interpretive guides, create and adopt an official symbol for the network, and provide assistance to participating entities. Using information from the NPS about the costs of administering similar efforts and based on the expected scope of the program, CBO estimates that the agency would need less than $500,000 in the first year following enactment for basic planning, developing educational materials, and coordinating activities with participating entities. In subsequent years, CBO estimates that the NPS would need about $1 million each year to manage the network and provide technical assistance to participating entities through cooperative agreements. In total, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5532 would cost $5 million over the 2019-2023 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting H.R. 5532 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
